Home network using wireless module

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for implementing a home network including a wireless module. In one implementation, a home network includes: two or more host devices, where at least one host device includes a wireless module port, and where the host devices are connected in a local network; and a wireless module connected to the wireless module port of a host device, where the wireless module provides a wireless connection to an external network; where at least one host device is a consumer appliance.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application incorporates herein by reference U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/______, of Akihiko Toyoshima, for SYSTEM ANDMETHOD FOR ACTIVATION OF A WIRELESS MODULE, filed Oct. 5, 2001 (Sony IPD50P4257.01); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/______, of AkihikoToyoshima, for MULTIPLE WIRELESS FORMAT PHONE SYSTEM AND METHOD, filedOct. 5, 2001 (Sony IPD No. 50P4257.03); U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/______, of Akihiko Toyoshima, for WIRELESS MODEM MODULE SERVERSYSTEM, filed October ______, 2001 (Sony IPD No. 50P4257.04); U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/______, of Akihiko Toyoshima, forWIRELESS MODULE SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD, filed Oct. 5, 2001 (Sony IPD50P4257.05), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/______, of AkihikoToyoshima, for A DEFAULT PORTAL SITE ACCESS WITH WIRELESS MODULE, filedOctober ______, 2001 (Sony IPD 50P4257.06); and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/______, of Akihiko Toyoshima, for SYSTEM, METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR EMBEDDED FIRMWARE CODE UPDATE, filed Oct. 5, 2001 (SonyIPD 50P4257.07); and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/928,582, ofBaranowski, et al., for WIRELESS MODULE, filed Aug. 13, 2001 (Sony IPD50N3390); and Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/240,011, ofJuan, et al., for PORTABLE WIRELESS MODEM, filed Oct. 13, 2000 (Sony IPD50P4257), the benefit of whose priority date is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is related to home networks and wirelesscommunication.

A typical home network connects multiple home devices in a local areanetwork (LAN). Examples of home devices include televisions, audiosystems, refrigerators, microwave ovens, and other consumer appliances.A home network may also include other network devices, such as a desktopcomputer. Through the home network, the network devices can communicatewith one another, such as to request and provide information. Tocommunicate with devices outside the network one or more of the devicesin the home network needs to be connected to an external network.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for implementing ahome network including a wireless module. In one implementation, a homenetwork includes: two or more host devices, where at least one hostdevice includes a wireless module port, and where the host devices areconnected in a local network; and a wireless module connected to thewireless module port of a host device, where the wireless moduleprovides a wireless connection to an external network; where at leastone host device is a consumer appliance.

In another implementation, a method of registering a home network portalincludes: evaluating a status of a wireless module port in a first hostdevice in a home network including multiple host devices; if thewireless module port status indicates a wireless module is notconnected, evaluating the status of the wireless module port again; andif the wireless module port status indicates a wireless module isconnected, broadcasting to other host devices in the home network thatthe first host device is a home network portal having a connectedwireless module.

In another implementation, a method of sending data from a home networkthrough a home network portal includes: determining which host device ina home network including multiple host devices is a home network portalhaving a connected wireless module; sending data to the home networkportal; sending data from the home network portal through the wirelessmodule to an external network; where at least one host device is aconsumer appliance.

In another implementation, a method of receiving data in a home networkthrough a home network portal includes: receiving data from an externalnetwork at a home network portal, where the home network portal has aconnected wireless module and is a host device in a home networkincluding multiple host devices; determining which host device in thehome network is a destination host device for the data; and sending datafrom the home network portal to the destination host device; where atleast one host device is a consumer appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a network diagram of a home network including a wirelessmodule according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one implementation of a wireless moduleaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a host device including a wireless moduleport according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of registering a home network portal in a homenetwork according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of sending data out of the home network throughthe home network portal according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of receiving data from outside the home networkthrough the home network portal according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing ahome network including a wireless module. One or more host devices inthe home network include wireless module ports to connect to respectivewireless modules. A wireless module provides a wireless connection to anexternal network, such as the Internet. A host device connected to awireless module forms a home network portal and can communicate with theexternal network across the wireless connection. Other host devices inthe home network can also communicate with the external network througha combination of the home network and the home network portal.

FIG. 1 is a network diagram of a home network 100 including a wirelessmodule 105. Home network 100 includes four host devices 110, 115, 120,125. A host device can be a consumer appliance (e.g., a television, anaudio system, a refrigerator, or a microwave oven), a computer, or someother network device. In FIG. 1, host device 110 is a television, hostdevice 115 is a desktop computer, host device 120 is an audio system,and host device 125 is a video camcorder. In alternativeimplementations, home networks include different numbers of hostdevices, such as two or more. Host devices 110, 115, 120, 125 areinterconnected by network links 130 forming a LAN. In FIG. 1, hostdevices 110, 115, 120, 125 are interconnected in a ring pattern. Inalternative implementations, different network configurations can beused, such as a star pattern. Network links 130 can be wireline orwireless. Accordingly, various network types and configurations can beused in home network 100, such as Ethernet, IEEE 1394, or wireless LAN.

Host device 110 includes a wireless module port 135. Multiple hostdevices in home network 100 can include respective wireless moduleports. Wireless module 105 is connected to host device 110 throughwireless module port 135. As described below, in one implementation,wireless module 105 is a removable card and so wireless module port 135is a matching slot to receive wireless module 105. Host device 110includes control components to interact with wireless module 105 andcommunicate with home network 100.

Wireless module 105 can communicate with its connected host device 110and can communicate through a wireless connection to an externalnetwork, such as the Internet 140. In one implementation, wirelessmodule 105 establishes a wireless connection to a base station (notshown) to communicate with the Internet 140.

When host device 110 is connected to wireless module 105, thecombination forms a home network portal 145. Host devices 110, 115, 120,125 can communicate with the Internet 140 through the home networkportal 145. Accordingly, home network portal 145 provides a gateway forcommunication between home network 100 and the Internet 140. In oneimplementation, multiple wireless modules are connected to respectivehost devices forming respective home network portals. Each home networkportal can provide a connection to a different external network, or someor all of the home network portals can provide connections to the sameexternal network. When wireless module 105 is disconnected from hostdevice 110, home network portal 145 is dissolved. If wireless module 105is connected to a different host device having a wireless module port, anew home network portal is formed. Accordingly, which host device formsthe home network portal is flexible and can be changed by moving thewireless module from one wireless module port to another.

In one example of operation, host device 125 (a video camcorder) sendsvideo data through home network 100 to home network portal 145,including host device 110 (a television) and wireless module 105. Hostdevice 110 sends the video data to wireless module 105. Wireless module105 sends the video data through a wireless connection to the Internet140.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one implementation of a wireless module200, corresponding to wireless module 105 in FIG. 1. Wireless module 200includes an antenna 205. Antenna 205 provides a wireless connection to anetwork, such as to the Internet 140 as shown in FIG. 1. Antenna 205 isconnected to a transceiver circuit 210.

Transceiver circuit 210 includes a duplexer 215, a transmitter 220, anda receiver 225. Transmitter 220 and receiver 225 are connected to abaseband signal processor 230. Baseband signal processor 230 processessignals received from and to be sent to transceiver circuit 210.Baseband signal processor 230 is connected to a microprocessor 235.Microprocessor 235 controls the operation of wireless module 200.Microprocessor 235 is connected to a memory 240 and an input/output(I/0) interface 245. Memory 240 provides storage for microprocessor 235.I/O interface 245 provides a connection to a host device, such asthrough a wireless module port 135 as shown in FIG. 1. I/O interface 245can be implemented to support various interfaces, such as PCMCIA, MemoryStick™ by Sony Corporation of Japan, USB, IEEE 1394, or a wirelessinterface, such as a Bluetooth or infrared interface. Accordingly,wireless module 200 can be implemented in various forms, such as a cardto be inserted into a wireless module port or an external device to beconnected to a wireless module port through a wireline or wirelessconnection.

In operation, data packets received at antenna 205 are passed throughduplexer 215 and receiver 225 to baseband signal processor 230. Basebandsignal processor 230 provides the data to microprocessor 235.Microprocessor 235 passes the data to I/O interface 245 and on to aconnected host device. Data packets received from a connected hostdevice at I/O interface 245 are passed onto microprocessor 235.Microprocessor 235 provides the data to baseband signal processor 230.In one implementation, microprocessor 235 packetizes the data. Basebandsignal processor 230 passes the data to antenna 205 through transmitter220 and duplexer 215. Antenna 205 sends the data through a wirelessconnection to an external network, such as the Internet.

Wireless module 205 can be implemented to be compatible with variouswireless formats, such as cdmaOne (IS-95B), cdma2000 1x, or cdma20001xEV. Wireless module 200 as shown in FIG. 2 is one illustrativeimplementation of a wireless module, and in alternative implementationsalternative architectures can be used, such as one described inBaranowski et al. (application Ser. No. 09/928,582, filed Aug. 13,2001).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a host device 300 including a wirelessmodule port 305, corresponding to host device 110 and wireless moduleport 135 in FIG. 1. Wireless module port 305 provides an interface to awireless module, such as wireless module 200 in FIG. 2. Wireless moduleport 305 can be implemented to support various interfaces, such asPCMCIA, Memory Stick™ by Sony Corporation of Japan, USB, MEE 1394, or awireless interface, such as a Bluetooth or infrared interface.

Host device 300 includes a home network portal control 310. As describedabove, a host device 300 that includes a wireless module port 305becomes a home network portal when a wireless module is connected to thewireless module port 305. Home network portal control 310 passes data toand from a wireless module through wireless module port 305. In oneimplementation, home network portal control 310 packetizes data to besent to a wireless module and depacketizes data received from a wirelessmodule.

Home network portal control 310 passes data and a destination fromwireless module port 305 to a home network interface 315. Home networkinterface 315 passes data from host device 300 to the home network andfrom the home network to host device 300. Host device 300 also includesa host device functionality block 320 connected to home networkinterface 315. Host device functionality block 320 provides the primaryfunctionality of the host device, such as television functionality, orcamcorder functionality.

Home network interface 315 determines the destination for data receivedfrom the home network. Home network interface 315 provides data from thehome network for the host device functionality block 320 to host devicefunctionality block 320. Home network interface 315 provides data to besent out of the home network to home network portal control 310.

Home network interface 315 also determines the destination in the homenetwork for data received from host functionality block 320 and receivedfrom the wireless module through home network portal control 310. Homenetwork interface 315 passes data into the home network with destinationinformation appropriate to the network protocol used in the homenetwork.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of registering a home network portal in a homenetwork. In one implementation, each host device having a wirelessmodule port in a home network performs this process on a periodic basisto check for a connected wireless module. The host device evaluates thestatus of the wireless module port, block 405. Referring to FIG. 3, inone implementation, home network portal control 310 evaluates wirelessmodule port 305. The host device determines whether or not a wirelessmodule is connected to the wireless module port, block 410. If awireless module is not connected to the wireless module port, the hostdevice returns to block 405. In one implementation, the host devicewaits for a period of time before returning to block 405. If a wirelessmodule is connected to the wireless module port, the host devicebroadcasts to the other host devices in the home network that this hostdevice is a home network portal, block 415. Referring to FIG. 3, in oneimplementation, home network portal 310 provides a broadcast message forthe home network to home network interface 315. Home network interface315 sends the message to each of the host devices in the home network.In one implementation, each host device in the home network recordswhich host device is a home network portal, such as by using a datatable in a respective home network interface 315. In anotherimplementation, a host device which is a home network portal alsobroadcasts to the other host devices in the home network when thewireless module is removed and the home network portal is dissolved. Inanother implementation, each host device periodically broadcasts to theother host devices in the home network whether or not that host deviceis a home network portal.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of sending data out of the home network throughthe home network portal. A host device that has data to send out of thehome network determines which host device is a home network portal,block 505. Referring to FIG. 3, in one implementation, a host devicechecks a data table in its home network interface 315 to determine whichhost device is a home network portal. The host device sends the data anda transmission request to the home network portal through the homenetwork, block 510. The transmission request indicates the destinationfor the data, such as a server on to the Internet. The home networkportal sends the data through the wireless module across a wirelessconnection to an external network, such as the Internet, block 515.Referring to FIG. 3, in one implementation, in the home network portal,home network interface 315 receives the data and request and passes thedata and request to home network portal control 310. Home network portalcontrol 310 passes the data and destination to a wireless module throughwireless module port 305. In one implementation, the wireless modulepacketizes the outgoing data.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of receiving data from outside the home networkthrough the home network portal. Incoming data, such as from theInternet, is received across a wireless connection at the wirelessmodule in the home network portal, block 605. The host device in thehome network portal receives the data from the wireless module anddetermines which host device in the home network is the intendeddestination host device for the incoming data, block 610. Referring toFIG. 3, in one implementation, in the home network portal, home networkportal control 310 receives the data and destination from the wirelessmodule through wireless module port 305. Home network portal control 310passes the data and a destination in the home network (which may be thehost device in the home network portal) to home network interface 315.The host device in the home network portal sends the data through thehome network to the destination host device, block 615. Referring toFIG. 3, in one implementation, home network interface 315 passes thedata out to the home network to the destination. If the destination isthe host device in the home network portal, home network interface 315passes the data to host functionality block 320.

Various illustrative implementations of the present invention have beendescribed. Aspects of the present invention can be implemented inelectronic circuitry, computer hardware, software, or in combinations ofthem. For example, in FIG. 3, home network portal control 310 and homenetwork interface 315 in a host device can be implemented in variousways, such as with an FPGA, a hardwired design, a microprocessorarchitecture, or a combination. However, one of ordinary skill in theart will see that additional implementations are also possible andwithin the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the presentinvention is not limited to only those implementations described above.

1-26. (canceled)
 27. Method comprising: providing at least twocomponents; establishing communication between the components using anetwork; and enabling a user of the network to establish which componentdefines a portal to the Internet, each component having at least oneassociated port and at least one determining whether a module isconnected to the associated port of the at least one component, the atleast one component in response to determining that a module isconnected to the associated port sending to another component in thenetwork an indication thereof, the at least one component in response todetermining that a module has been disconnected from its associated portsending to another component in the network an indication thereof. 28.The method of claim 27, wherein a first one of the components is a TVand a second one of the components is a home appliance.
 29. The methodof claim 28, comprising connecting first and second modules to therespective TV and home appliance to establish respective first andsecond network portals simultaneously.
 30. The method of claim 29,wherein the first home portal communicates with the Internet and thesecond home portal communicates with a network other than the Internet.31. Assembly comprising: at least first and second components configuredfor communication for communication with each other over a home network;wherein each component has at least one associated port and at least thefirst component determines whether a module is connected to theassociated port of the first component, the first component in responseto determining that a module is connected to the associated port sendingto the second component in the network an indication thereof, the firstcomponent in response to determining that a module has been disconnectedfrom its associated port sending to the second component in the networkan indication thereof
 32. The assembly of claim 31, wherein a first oneof the components is a TV and a second one of the components is a homeappliance.
 33. The assembly of claim 32, comprising first and secondmodules connected to the respective TV and home appliance to establishrespective first and second network portals simultaneously.
 34. Theassembly of claim 33, wherein the first home portal communicates withthe Internet and the second home portal communicates with a networkother than the Internet.
 35. The assembly of claim 31, wherein a user ofthe network is enabled to establish which component defines a portal tothe Internet.
 36. Method comprising: providing at least two components;establishing communication between the components using a network; eachcomponent having at least one associated port; at least a first one ofthe components determining whether a module is connected to theassociated port of the component; the first component in response todetermining that a module is connected to the associated port sending toanother component in the network an indication thereof; and the firstcomponent in response to determining that a module has been disconnectedfrom its associated port sending to another component in the network anindication thereof.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein a first one ofthe components is a TV and a second one of the components is a homeappliance.
 38. The method of claim 37, comprising connecting first andsecond modules to the respective TV and home appliance to establishrespective first and second network portals simultaneously.
 39. Themethod of claim 38, wherein the first home portal communicates with theInternet and the second home portal communicates with a network otherthan the Internet.
 40. The method of claim 36, comprising enabling auser of the network to establish which component defines a portal to theInternet.